Chivas USA’s back line continues to receive an ovation league wide. A few weeks ago, Bobby Burling’s performance against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC put him in MLSsoccer.com’s Team of the Week, and this week, Mario de Luna has been named to the elite group.

Just last week, Coach Jose Luis Sanchez Solá pulled the Red-and-White defender from the match against Real Salt Lake just minutes before the end of the first half, move made many wonder if de Luna was injured or the coach was simply not satisfied with his on-field performance.

The Mexican defender returned to Saturday’s match against the San Jose Earthquakes to redeem himself and prove why, before the match against RSL, he had played every minute of the 2013 MLS season. Not only did De Luna go all 90 minutes on the pitch, but also scored his first MLS goal for Chivas USA, but also made two crucial saves that kept the Goats in the game.

Once he found out about his nomination, the Aguascalientes, Mexico native said that he was very happy for the distinguished honor, but also expressed his committed to continue improving his playing level so he can be considered week-to-week on MLSsoccer.com’s Team of the Week.

“I feel very happy about it,” De Luna said after learning about his nomination. “That’s where you see all the work that we’ve been carrying out week to week just to get to the starting line-up. We also have to work hard on the field, be fully concentrated and also appreciate the support from my teammates, that without them, I couldn’t do my job.”

“Now, I have to match and improve my performance level. We have a game this weekend where we’re determined to earn three points and continue the level that we carried out in the match against San Jose,” the Chivas USA defender concluded.